Jonah Patel
In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution for India. The Nehru Report, as it came to be known, was the first major Indian attempt to draft a constitutional framework for the country. The committee included members such as Tej Bahadur Sapru, Ali Imam, M.R. Jayakar, and Subash Chandra Bose, and was tasked with addressing issues such as communalism and India's status as a dominion. The report, which included fundamental rights and protections for religious and cultural minorities, served as a precursor to the Indian Constitution of 1950, which was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which included members such as Sarojini Naidu, an Indian political activist, feminist, and poet, who was the first Indian woman to be president of the Indian National Congress and to be appointed governor of an Indian state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1928 |
| Name | Nehru Report |
| Chairman | Motilal Nehru |
| Secretary | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Members | Sir Ali Imam, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Subash Chandra Bose, M.R. Jayakar, Annie Besant, M.S. Aney, Mangal Singh, Sohaib Qureshi, G.R. Pradhan |
| Brief | To consider and determine the principles of the Constitution of India, along with the problem of communalism and the issue of dominion status |
| Result | Had little practical result, but the fundamental rights section was a precursor to the Fundamental Rights of the Constitution of India, 1950 |
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What You'll Learn
Motilal Nehru chaired the committee
In 1928, Motilal Nehru chaired the committee that drafted a constitution for India. The committee was formed by the All Parties Conference, which included the All India Liberal Federation, the All India Muslim League, the Sikh Central League, and others. The Conference constituted the committee on 19 May 1928, with the brief "to consider and determine the principles of the Constitution of India along with the problem of communalism and issue of dominion status".
The committee was composed of Motilal Nehru (Chairman), Tej Bahadur Sapru, Ali Imam, M.S. Aney, Mangal Singh, Sohaib Qureshi, G.R. Pradhan, and Subhash Chandra Bose. Motilal Nehru's son, Jawaharlal Nehru, served as the committee's secretary. The committee's report, known as the Nehru Report, was submitted to the All Parties Conference in August 1929. It was the first major Indian effort to draft a constitutional framework for the country, and it included provisions for nineteen fundamental rights, including equal rights for women, and the full protection of the cultural and religious interests of Muslims.
The Nehru Report was a response to a challenge made in 1925 by Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, who asked Indians to "produce a constitution which carries behind it a fair measure of general agreement among the great peoples of India". The nationalist movement, led by the Indian National Congress, took up this challenge, deciding to boycott the Simon Commission and establish the All Parties Conference to draft a Constitution for India.
The Nehru Report was a memorable and significant step towards Indian independence, but it did not have a direct practical impact. It evoked debate about the goal of India achieving dominion status or complete independence, and it included a rejection of separate electorates and a call for linguistic provinces. However, the leader of the Muslim League, Jinnah, did not accept the report, presenting a list of fourteen demands in response, which became known as the "fourteen points of Jinnah". Despite this rejection, the Nehru Report is recognised as a precursor to the Fundamental Rights of the Constitution of India, which came into force on 26 January 1950.
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The committee included Sir Ali Imam and Subash Chandra Bose
In 1925, Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, challenged the Indian nationalist movement to "produce a constitution which carries behind it a fair measure of general agreement among the great peoples of India". In response, the nationalist movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, decided to draft a constitution. On 19 May 1928, the All Parties Conference, which included the All-India Liberal Federation, the All India Muslim League, and the Sikh Central League, among others, constituted a committee to draft the Constitution of India.
The committee included Sir Ali Imam, a prominent associate, and Subash Chandra Bose, a militant nationalist leader and future Congress President. Bose was known for his less keen stance on constitutional reform and his openness to socialism. He was also known for his controversial escape to Germany in 1941, where he sought military help from the Axis nations to free India.
Other notable members of the committee were Motilal Nehru (Chairman), Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.R. Jayakar, and Annie Besant, who joined later. Jawaharlal Nehru, Motilal Nehru's son, was appointed the secretary to the committee. The committee was tasked with considering and determining the principles of the Constitution of India, addressing the problem of communalism, and tackling the issue of dominion status.
The committee submitted its report to the All Parties Conference in August 1929, and a supplementary report with some changes was published in December of the same year. The report was a significant step towards Indian independence and was hailed as the "Magna Carta of our liberty" by the Hindustan Times.
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The Nehru Report was the first major Indian effort to draft a constitution
The Nehru Report, also known as the Motilal Nehru Report, was the first major Indian effort to draft a constitution. It was prepared by a subcommittee of the All Parties Conference, which included the All India Liberal Federation, the All India Muslim League, the Sikh Central League, and others. The subcommittee was constituted on 19 May 1928 and was chaired by Motilal Nehru, with Jawaharlal Nehru, Motilal Nehru's son, serving as secretary. The committee also included notable members such as Sir Ali Imam, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Subash Chandra Bose.
The Nehru Report was a response to the challenge issued by Lord Birkenhead, then Secretary of State for India, in 1925. Birkenhead dared the Indians to "produce a constitution that carries behind it a fair measure of general agreement among the great peoples of India." The nationalist movement leaders took up this challenge, and the Indian National Congress decided to set up an All Parties Conference to draft a Constitution for India. The Nehru Report outlined a constitution for India to enjoy dominion status within the British Commonwealth.
The Report included a Bill of Rights, which guaranteed personal liberty, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and gender equality. It also addressed the problem of communalism and the issue of dominion status. The fundamental rights section of the Report was particularly noteworthy, with 10 out of 19 sub-clauses reappearing in the 1950 Constitution of India, and three of the Nehru rights included in the Directive Principles.
The Nehru Report was finalised in August 1928 and submitted to the All Parties Conference in August 1929, with a supplementary report published in December that reflected some changes. Despite being a significant step towards Indian constitution-making, the Report faced criticism, particularly from Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who argued that it was ambiguous and did not adequately address the political future of the Muslims. Nevertheless, the Nehru Report holds a significant place in the history of India's constitutional development.
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The report included 19 fundamental rights
In 1925, Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, challenged Indians to "produce a constitution which carries behind it a fair measure of general agreement among the great peoples of India". In response, Indian nationalist leaders drafted the Nehru Report 1928, which included 19 fundamental rights. The report was prepared by an All Parties Conference, which included the All India Liberal Federation, All India Muslim League, Sikh Central League, and others. The committee to draft the constitution was constituted on 19 May 1928, with Motilal Nehru as its chairman.
The Nehru Report 1928 has been described as a "frank attempt" by Indians to confront the challenges of communalism. It also stood out for its objective of claiming dominion status. The fundamental rights section of the report served as a precursor to the Fundamental Rights of the Constitution of India (1950). Notably, 10 of its 19 sub-clauses were reproduced with minimal changes, and three of the Nehru rights were incorporated into the Directive Principles.
The Right to Freedom, as outlined in Articles 19 to 22 of the Indian Constitution, guarantees individual liberties that are considered fundamental by the constitution's framers. These rights include freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of movement. However, these rights are not absolute and can be subject to reasonable restrictions to maintain law and order and for the protection of general welfare. For instance, during a state of national emergency, the rights conferred by Article 19 may be temporarily suspended.
Article 19 has been amended several times. The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, made changes to Article 19(1)(a) to address the "abuse of freedom of speech and expression". This amendment was a response to criticism of the government's handling of issues like the West Bengal refugee crisis and extrajudicial killings in Madras. The Constitution (Forty-Fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, repealed Article 19 (1) (f) and Article 31(1), and the latter was made into a separate Article 300A in Chapter IV of Part XII. The Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, amended Clauses (2), (3), and (4) of Article 19.
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The final constitution was drafted in 1950
In 1925, Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, challenged Indians to "produce a constitution which carries behind it a fair measure of general agreement among the great peoples of India". In response, the nationalist movement leaders drafted the Nehru Report of 1928. On 19 May 1928, the All Parties Conference, which included the All India Liberal Federation, the All India Muslim League, the Sikh Central League, and others, constituted a committee to draft the Constitution. The committee was chaired by Motilal Nehru and included members such as Sir Ali Imam, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Subash Chandra Bose. Jawaharlal Nehru, Motilal Nehru's son, served as the committee's secretary.
The committee was tasked with addressing the principles of the Constitution of India, tackling communalism, and addressing the issue of dominion status. In August 1929, the committee submitted its report to the All Parties Conference, with a supplementary report published in December reflecting some changes. The Nehru Report is considered a significant precursor to the final Constitution of India, with its fundamental rights section closely resembling the Fundamental Rights of the 1950 Constitution.
The final Constitution of India was drafted in 1950 by the Constituent Assembly, which included members like Jawaharlal Nehru and Jayakar, who had previously been part of the committee that drafted the Nehru Report. The Constituent Assembly undertook the challenging task of drafting a constitution that unified the diverse peoples of India and enshrined fundamental rights and freedoms.
The process of drafting the final Constitution involved extensive debates, negotiations, and compromises among the members of the Constituent Assembly. It reflected the aspirations and values of a newly independent India, seeking to establish a democratic framework that guaranteed the rights of its citizens and promoted national unity. The final Constitution of India, enacted in 1950, served as the supreme law of the land and provided the foundational principles upon which the Indian state was built.
The 1950 Constitution of India is a comprehensive document that outlines the structure and functions of India's government, delineates the fundamental rights and duties of its citizens, and establishes the principles of governance for the world's largest democracy. It has been amended over the years to adapt to the evolving needs and aspirations of the Indian people, but its core principles remain intact, guiding the nation's journey towards progress and development.
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Frequently asked questions
Motilal Nehru chaired the All Parties Conference committee that drafted the 1928 constitution for India.
Some of the notable members of the committee were Tej Bahadur Sapru, Ali Imam, M.R. Jayakar, Annie Besant, and Subash Chandra Bose. Motilal's son, Jawaharlal Nehru, was appointed the secretary to the committee.
The committee was tasked with "consider [ing] and determin [ing] the principles of the Constitution of India along with the problem of communalism and [the] issue of dominion status."
The committee submitted its report, known as the Nehru Report, to the All Parties Conference in August 1929. The report was a constitutional document that included 19 fundamental rights, such as equal rights for women, and provisions for the full protection of the cultural and religious interests of Muslims and the complete dissociation of religion from the state.
No, the 1928 constitution did not come into force. India achieved independence from British rule in 1947 and its constitution came into force on January 26, 1950. The 1928 constitution was, however, a significant milestone as it was the first major Indian effort to draft a constitutional framework for the country.
